Buildings have a dramatic impact on our environment. Not only do they consume vast amounts of our natural resources, they also contribute highly to climate change. Our building industry consumes:
-
40% of the world’s materials and energy 1
- 35% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions
- 33% of Canada’s energy consumption
- 50% of Canada’s natural resources consumption
- 12% of Canada’s non-industrial water use
- 25% of Canada’s waste going to landfill 2
By building green, we can greatly reduce these environmental impacts. Green buildings differ from conventional buildings by integrating environmental and social initiatives that result in a reduction of their environmental impact while improving building performance and providing healthier interiors for occupants.
In Canada and around the world, green building rating systems and standards have been developed to push the upper limit of what's possible in the design and construction of buildings. Click below for a quick overview of the most widely recognized systems.
[Overview coming soon!]
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